Improvement in fifth-wheels for vehicles



SAMU-El. MOR'E'LAND.

Improvement in FiftfhfWheelsffor Veh'ifjlls.`

NO. 127,093.-Y M PatentQdMQyQLNl SAMUEL MORELAND, OF COVINGTON BERNARD HEGGE, AND THEOD KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, ORE BRINKER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIFTH-WHEELS FQR VEHICLES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 127,093, dated May 2l, 1872.

To vall whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL MORELANE, of Covington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Fifth-Vheels for Carriages.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the same, Areference bein g had to the accompanyin g drawing making part of this specification, and, to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l is-a top-plan view. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section on the line w x of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a bottom-plan View, and Fig. et a transverse vertical section on the line y y of Fig. l.

The object of this invention is to form a fifth-wheel for carriages, which shall be Ina-de complete, of iron, by casting it or otherwise, with suitable shoulders and recesses for securing thereto the attachmentawhich consist of the bolster and perch.

The body is formed with its front portion of a semicircular shape, and with a raised or arched ledge on top, as represented in Figs. l and 2. This raised portion extends far enough to constitute a half-circle; and it terminates on each side With a raised shoulder, a, as shown in Fig. 2. i Immediately behind these shoulders it has a plane or flat surface, B, as shown in Fig. 1, this dat surface, in connection with the shoulders a, serving as a means of securing the springblock or bolster O securely in place, it being secured by bolts or clips in the usual manner. Just in rear of this fiat surface B a recess, c, is formed, as shown in Fig. 1, and from thence a tang or strap, D, extends back for some distance, this strap or extended portion being made dat on its upper surface and tapered o toward its rear end, as shown in Fig. 2. The body A is cast with a depending Iiange or lip, c, to t over the outer edge of the circle P, on which the fifth-wheel rests, and plays to and fro as the Vehicle is turned, as represented in Fig. 2, this iange: or lip being more clearly represented in Fig. 4, where it is shown enlarged. The under surface of the body A, inside of this iiange e, is made ila-t, thus forming a uniform surface, n, to bear on the circle P, this bearing-suriace being' shown in Fig. 3, where it is shown forming about three-quarters of a circle, by extending its rear points r inward from the line of the straps D.

When the device is thus constructed it is used as follows: A wooden bar, I, is bolted to eachof the straps or arms D to form a perch, these bars being connected at their rear ends to thefhind axle, as usual. A bolster or sprin gblock, O, is secured upon the flat surfaces B, resting against the shoulders a when the body A is set upon a circle, P, which is firmly secured to the front axle R, as represented in Fig. 2, the parts being held together by a king or center bolt, b, in the usual manner. p

By this means I am enabled to produce a very simple, cheap, and efficient article, which is admirably adapted to the wants of the trade, and that can be very easily and readily applied, and is also durable.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- In fth-Wheels, made'complete by casting orotherwise, the flange o, shoulders a, andrecesses c, when the Whole is constructed substantially as described.

SAMUEL MORELAND.

Witnesses WM. H. FISHER, WM. G. HosEA.

PATENT QEEIoE.' 

